Paris is a city that is filled with cafés, so it is sometimes hard for any one of these establishments to stick out from the crowd. For visitors who want to discover a place that is a little off the beaten path, a new hangout called L’AntiCafé offers an experience that is different from any other Parisian café. By naming itself “the anti-café,” this new spot is promising something that the standard coffee joints do not.
L’AntiCafé is located in the Marais neighborhood, one of the hippest in the City of Light. With an interesting blend of chic shopping, ethnic eateries, and trendy bars and restaurants, the Marais is where many Parians come to spend their leisure time. The AntiCafé hopes to provide this public with a new kind of place to hang out, featuring an innovative system of service that may surprise.
Instead of paying for each drink or food item consumed, at the AntiCafé patrons pay for the time that they spend there. Then, they can consume as many hot and cold drinks or sweet and salty snacks as they want. Plus, there is free wifi and access to equipment like a video projector, a printer, a scanner, board games and books. All of this is included in the 2 to 4 euro per hour fee that patrons pay for a seat at the café. The café also welcomes those who want to bring their own food or even a nice bottle of wine.
L’AntiCafé is open every day — 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Before 5 p.m., the access fee is 4 euros for the first hour and then 2 euros per hour after that. After 5 p.m. it is always 4 euros per hour. Staying the whole day will only cost visitors 14 euros per day.
A number of events are planned for the month of June and beyond, including a showing of short films, drawing classes and a vocal concert. With such a unique concept and a variety of cultural offerings, l’AntiCafé provides a fun alternative to the hyper-chic cafés that guests staying at the Hôtel Louvre Marsollier might already have come across.